Point Arena is a small coastal city located in Mendocino County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 474 (making it one of the smallest incorporated cities in the state). Its main street comprises part of California State Route 1, California's coastal artery. Along with a number of other Mendocino County coastal communities, Point Arena is associated with the hippy and subsequent counterculture groups, and its economy is largely geared toward servicing the summertime tourist industry.
The city itself is built around a small natural harbor, and is located around a mile (1.5 km) south of the actual Point Arena, a narrow peninsula jutting around 1/2 mile (800 m) into the Pacific Ocean. This is the location of the Point Arena Lighthouse, at 115 feet (34.5m) the tallest lighthouse on the West coast of the United States.
Geography
The city of Point Arena is located at 38°54'47" North, 123°41'43" West (38.913118, -123.695342). It is in
USPS ZIP code 95468.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²). 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
History
The first European to record Point Arena was Spaniard Bartolomé Ferrelo in 1543, who named it Cabo de Fortunas (Spanish for "cape of fortunes"). The cape was renamed to Punta Delgado (narrow point) in 1775 by lieutenant Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra (commander of the schooner Sonora), part of a royal expedition chartered by the government of Mexico to map the north coast of Alta California. Later the point, and the small harbor town south of it, were called Barra de Arena (i.e. sandbar) and finally Point Arena (literally "sand point").
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 474 people, 191 households, and 109 families residing in the city. The population density is 134.6/km² (348.5/mi²). There are 218 housing units at an average density of 61.9/km² (160.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 73.63% White, 1.05% African American, 3.80% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 18.78% from other races, and 2.53% from two or more races. 28.48% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 191 households out of which 33.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% are married couples living together, 13.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% are non-families. 32.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.48 and the average family size is 3.30.
In the city the population is spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 110.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 106.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $27,083, and the median income for a family is $32,885. Males have a median income of $21,042 versus $15,000 for females. The per capita income for the city is $12,591. 26.0% of the population and 24.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 36.0% of those under the age of 18 and 4.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
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